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Posted: 10/2/2009 7:35:15 PM EDT
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After several years I'm finally in a position to buy my first NV equipment. I live in a rural area and it will be used mostly for coyote and hog hunting, however it will be used also for general wildlife viewing and just checking things out. Since it will most likely be the only NV equipment I will ever own it needs to be versatile. I have a couple of ideas I'd like to run by the group and see if they are practical, as well as a few questions. Also any other suggestions would be appreciated.
One of the options I'm considering is a rifle scope such as the D740 or D760. Are QD scope mounts available for these so that they could be used as a viewer, then returned to a rifle without losing zero? Another option would be a monocular such as a PVS-14. I understand that these can be mounted behind a conventional day scope, however light transmission and overall image quality will suffer. How much does the image quality suffer, and if a quality IR light source is also used will this overcome the shortcomings of this type of setup? Whatever I get I would like it to be a Gen 3 however this is stretching my budget to the limit, and I would also like to get an AR upper in an appropriate caliber specifically for NV use. Would a high quality Gen 2 type of device, along with an IR light source, give similar performance to a Gen 3 device? Thanks for any advice you can provide. |
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If you are looking for the most versatile unit for your needs, I would highly suggest the ITT Night Enforcer PVS-14. This is a Gen 3 PINNACLE Autogated unit. What does that mean? ITT is the supplier of Gen 3 Image Intensifier Tubes to the US Military. They are the best available. Their competitor offers a Gen 3 Tube as well, but it does not measure up to the ITT technology. ITT Gen 3 PINNACLE Autogated tubes feature a thin film which minimizes blooming from bright light sources such as street lights or flames. They also allow the operator to continue using the device regardless of changing environmental lighting conditions. The operator retains their vision even when exposed to bright lights. Another major benefit to ITT's proprietary PINNACLE technology is that it minimizes the "halo" effect when viewing bright lights.
Now, why is the PVS-14 the most versatile platform? First, it can be head/helmet mounted, weapon-mounted, or hand-held. If you are looking for a weapon mount; the PVS-14 has the most options. Putting it behind a red dot is a no-brainer. If you want to use it with a magnified scope, the universal adapter is great. The image degradation you mentioned is a result of stacking optics in front of each others. Of course, this will create some degradation since an image intensifier gathers available light through the objective lens, amplifies it, and shows it to the operator. When you place it behind another optic, the dayscope's objective is now the light-gathering lens. So, the larger the dayscope objective, the more light it can gather and the better image you will get. My opinion on dedicated NV scopes is that they are best used as a dedicated scope and are not as versatile as monoculars. There is a drop-in replacement mount for the D-740/760 series that features QD throw levers, made by R&D Precision. Gen 2 Super High Performance is a great option. SHP tubes provide fantastic images that can rival Gen 3, but you have to remember the differences. Gen 2 tubes will appear not-as-bright as Gen 3. While their ability to resolve detail is very close, I would still recommend an IR illuminator to back it up. Also, Gen 2 tubes have a significantly shorter lifespan than Gen3 In the end, if this is going to be your one and only NV device, I would suggest going for the best you can afford. I have never heard a complaint about the Night Enforcer PVS-14. Hope this helps. |
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Please stretch your budget. PVS-14 is the best, most versatile option. Best unit if you want to do both head and rifle mounting. Only consideration is that you shouldnt mount it atop anything more than a 6.8 rifle. If you want to go 308, then you should go with a dedicated NV scope imo. The Torch (the best by far that i've seen) is a must purchase, but will not turn a gen2 into a gen3.
You really Really REALLY do get what you pay for in NV. I'd advise waiting on the rifle and all NV/rifle accessories if you have to and put all your funds into the PVS-14. |
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Thanks for the advice guys. As much as I'd like to have a 740/760 I was already leaning toward the monocular, I guess I just needed the input of someone who knows more than I do (which is just about everyone). How does the universal adapter effect the eye relief of the day scope? Which type day scope would give the best results with this setup, I would think a variable with a 50mm objective set on a lower power would give the best results, is the correct? Also, how quickly can the unit be taken off a head/helmet mount and put on the scope using the adapter? In other words would it be practical to use it head mounted while looking for hogs, then mount it to the rifle after getting within range?
Thanks again for the help. I've been trying to educate myself over the past couple of weeks by reading everything I can find on NV but sometimes it gets a little confusing and overwhelming and it's great to have a source like AR15.com. |
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Your best bet if your going to be helmet mounted is to find a IR laser or use a visable laser. I use a otal 2 visable laser on one of my set ups and it works just fine. There is a little bloom but its not to bad in my opinion. There's a thread on here on how to build your own IR laser, and its actually pretty easy. The laser works very well. I built one but haven't had the time to run it threw its paces.
You can use the uni adapter to mount on your scope, but you have to take into consideration the added length of the monocular to the scope. So you have to mount the scope a good ways forward on your rail to get a descent cheek weld. If your doing this to your day time gun I would confirm my dope again due to the scope being mounted in a different position. I really wouldn't want to fumble with the uni adapter at night when your coming up on a target. Its a little clumsy in my opinion. |
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